Dalí: Alive in Spain’s museums

There are several destinations in Spain which are key to understanding the work of the master of surrealism Salvador Dalí. In Catalonia, the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres the Salvador Dalí House-Museum in Portlligat and the Púbol castle; in Madrid, the permanent collection of the Reina Sofía National Art Museum also has some outstanding works.

Salvador Dalí is a master of surrealism and one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Why not explore the places where he lived and painted, and discover the most interesting museums that exhibit his work? These are unusual spaces that can only be found in Dalí’s native Spain, where the memory of the painter is very much alive.

Spain has the privilege of being the birthplace of great artists that have spread their artistic heritage throughout the country, artists that also form part of its cultural and human landscape. And among the geniuses of the 20th century whose legacy can be admired and enjoyed most deeply, Salvador Dalí shines.

You will be able to travel to the village in which Dalí lived and died, or gaze upon the seascapes that inspired so many of his works. You can also admire the imaginative extravagance in the decoration of homes and workshops, today museums, which demonstrate his creative genius.

Dalí on the Costa Brava

On Spain’s Costa Brava, lovers of surrealism will find three Dalí museums which are a far cry from the conventional museum. Visits are highly-recommended for those who want to immerse themselves in the artist’s dream world, since on display is not merely a succession of isolated works, but rather a collection of major artistic styles. These architectural spaces and surrealist montages that will not leave you indifferent.

Figueres , the town near Girona in which Dalí lived and died, will captivate you. The Dalí Theatre-Museum is located here, a gigantic surrealist object that brings together more than 1,500 pieces, including the emblematic “Port Alguer”, “Galatea de las esferas” (“Galatea of the spheres”), the Mae West room, or “Cadillac lluvioso” (“Rainy Cadillac”), which join optical montages, holograms or stereoscopes never before imagined.

To experience the most private aspect of the painter’s and his muse’s life, we invite you to visit the Castillo Gala Dalí Museum-House. Exclusivity is the predominant feature of this Púbol medieval castle, in which paintings and drawings that Dalí gave as gifts to Gala are on display. An air of mystery surrounds the museum-house’s rooms, designed and decotared by Dalí. Marvel at the elephant scultpures that adorn the garden, the pool surrounded by busts of Wagner, or Gala’s haute-couture dresses, designed by one of the greatest geniuses of all time.

Without leaving Catalonia

Equally enticing is a visit to what was for many years Gala and Dalí’s refuge: a walk through the Salvador Dalí Museum-House in Portlligat is a fantastic opportunity to surround yourself with the Catalonian artist’s particular scenery. Observation of Portlligat’s fisherman’s houses gave birth to the majority of his greatest works of art, and can be considered a work of art in themselves. A walk along the shores of the Mediterranean, a visit to his workshop, library and private rooms you won’t soon forget.

The richness of Dalí’s heritage is kept alive throughout Catalonia in important centers and museums. The Centre d´Art Perrot-Moore in Cadaqués, the Museu de Montserrat and the Museo Comarcal del Maresme are a few such places.

Dalí’s Spain, Spain’s Dalí

The great contribution of Salvador Dalí to the world art and culture is manifest in many more of Spain’s museum collections. These are pieces that will incite you to continue on this cultural journey and discover the artist’s different creative stages. Prestigious museums in Madrid such as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) or the Museo Thyssen Bornemisza, which are part of the famous “Paseo del Arte” (Art Walk), contain key works of the Dalí iconography. Sueño causado por el vuelo de una abeja alrededor de una granada un segundo antes de despertar” (“Dream caused by the flight of a bee around a pomegranate one second before waking up”) or “Muchacha en la ventana” (“Girl in the window”) are just a small sample of what you wil find in Spain’s museums and collections. Another museum that houses Dalí’s work is the Museu d´Art Espanyol Contemporani (Juan March Palma de Mallorca Foundation).

Spain is, therefore, the best place to discover or gain deeper insight into life of this genius of Surrealism, who is perhaps one of the most world-renown Catalonian in the history of Spanish art. Dalí awaits you in Spain.

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